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RAY DUNAWAY: Meet Todd Feinburg, WTIC’s New Afternoon Host

The next era of afternoon drive on WTIC AM NewsTalk1080 begins Monday, April 24th when the station launches “Afternoons with Todd Feinburg” airing weekdays from 3:00-6:00 PM.

Feinburg joined Ray Dunaway this morning to offer a preview of the show and more.

Feinburg, who has been on WTIC AM as a fill in for Dunaway and Jim, is a veteran news person. He’s worked all over New England as a newscaster and director, and as a rock DJ, including five years in Boston with Tom Finneran, the former Speaker of the House in Massachusetts.

Feinburg asks Dunaway, “Will you drop by in the afternoon and join me for a few minutes on Monday?”

“Absolutely,” says Dunaway. “When you used to be on for Jim, I used to hang out with you for a while – and it was kind of cool.”

“It’s been a few years since I’ve done the morning shows,” says Feinburg, “but I still can’t sleep past 4:30 AM.”

“You don’t have to worry about that now,” says Dunaway, “because you’re doing the best shift in radio.”

This will be Feinburg’s first time hosting an afternoon show. Dunaway points out Feinburg’s many interests – political and otherwise.

“I like to talk about whatever’s going on,” Feinburg explains. “Rush talks about the mechanics of politics – and what interests me is what’s going on in the world and what’s on the top of mind for everybody.”

What will be on the “top of mind” for everyone, as Dunaway points out, is the 2018 Governor’s race which Feinburg will be covering, along with other local news.

Continuing on the topic of local news, Feinburg explains, “One of the problems with the way the media has changed over the last couple of years, is that even though just as many people still listen to the radio, read the newspaper and watch TV, there’s not as many advertisers wanting to put their money there because there’s so many other places to put it. This puts a strain on everybody’s business model, resulting in a lot less local news coverage.”

Feinburg views this fact as an opportunity to get “behind the scenes” and peel away at what’s really going on.

Dunaway chimes in…“and there’s also a lot of opportunity if you’re a prospective advertiser to get on in the afternoon…so please do.”

Dunaway circles back to Feinburg’s point, bringing up the Georgia 6 Special Election, and the reason for its national draw.

“Number one,” says Dunaway, “ they wanted there to be a refutation of Trump had this guy won. Number two…what was it, $8 million for a crummy seat in Georgia….?”

“It’s not about the seat in Georgia,” says Feinburg, “but the zeal that drives the Democratic Party right now…the left wing that wants to make something big happen – they want to expand that Bernie Sanders/Socialist movement. That’s the exciting moment we live in. And Trump has made politics even better to talk about. He’s merged reality TV and the entertainment industry completely with politics…which the national media has been trying to do anyway.”

“Tell us about you,” says Dunaway, “You’re from Boston, grew up in New England most of your life… and you were a traffic reporter!”

“I’m surprised you didn’t focus on that – it was the most miserable couple of years of my life,” laughs Feinburg. “I loved the announcing part of it – it’s fun to do. I had one station that would cut my report off the air if I went over 22 seconds. When you’re working with those kind of restraints, it’s totally different from doing a talk radio show when you have 10 or 15 minutes to have a conversation. The tough part was hanging a thousand feet over the city in a chopper and getting flown around in the wind as if you’re a dangling piece of tissue paper.”

“I’m not going to ask what you’re going to do on Monday’s show because it’s going to depend on what’s happening in that particular moment of time,” says Dunaway.

“Exactly,” agrees Feinburg, adding, “Will you tell my wife that – she keeps asking me what I’m going to talk about on Monday. I have no idea!”

Dunaway concurs, “When I get here at 5:30 AM I have no idea what I’m going to talk about – and even after that – the first few hours you’re asleep anyway.”

“Todd, it’s going to be great to have you on. I’m really looking forward to it,” concludes Dunaway.

Tune in weekdays from 3:00-6:00 PM to hear “Afternoons with Todd Feinburg.”